In Monterey County, an old, abandoned ranch exists with a dark past. Jim grew up there, then married a Jelka, a beautiful daughter of foreign neighbors. On their wedding day, her father drunkenly advised him to beat his wife; Jim says he will not. Jelka’s father tells him he is a fool and that he will see. Jim finds Jelka is a quiet, effective housewife, but does not provide companionship. He misses female company, so resumes going to see the women of the Three Star, leaving Saturday afternoons. One Saturday, he prepares to leave for the Three Star and notices his wife is sitting in a different spot that night. She tells him that it is to see the full moon rise, but she cannot see the moon from there. He prepares his horse and announces he will be back the next day at noon. On his way, he meets George, a neighbor, who tells him he found a calf’s remains, along with a campfire. The skin had Jim’s brand on it. Jim turns around, back to his land to try and catch the thieves. He checks in on his herd, finding everything calm. Later in the evening, after eleven, Jim heads home. He finds a horse in the barn. Knowing an unexpected visitor is in the house, he grabs his rifle and creeps quietly through the house to the bedroom, finding Jelka in bed with another man. He leaves the house and sobs a few times before reentering in the house to shoot the lover in the forehead. The next day, Jim whips Jelka in the barn. She gets up painfully, says she will make him breakfast, and refuses his help to remove her bloody clothing that is drying to her back. He eats and tells her he is going to build them a new house. She asks if he will whip her again, and he says he won’t, at least not for this reason.